Research: AI has increased employee workload - ForkLog: cryptocurrencies, AI, singularity, the future

# Research: AI Increases Employee Workload

AI tools do not reduce the amount of work; on the contrary, they constantly increase it for employees. This is stated in a study by Harvard Business Review (HBR).

During an eight-month study, experts observed changes in the habits of employees at an American technology company with approximately 200 staff members.

It turned out that as artificial intelligence was integrated into routine processes, the team extended their workday, worked at an accelerated pace, often without any requests from management, and took on a broader range of tasks:

• product managers and designers began coding;
• researchers took on engineering cases;
• employees across the organization attempted to perform work they previously would have outsourced, postponed, or avoided altogether.

The expansion of employees’ responsibilities had several side effects. For example, developers spent more time reviewing, fixing, and adjusting colleagues’ tasks that used AI. They increasingly took on mentoring roles for employees engaged in Vibe coding.

Blurring Boundaries

Since AI greatly simplified task initiation, workers began performing tasks during times that previously were breaks. Many launched AI during lunch, meetings, or while uploading files.

Some would send a quick command right before leaving so that the large language model (LLM) could work in their absence.

Such actions were not perceived as additional workload, but over time, the workday became less natural and more continuous. The conversational style of prompts further softened this experience: typing resembled a chat more than performing formal duties. This allowed workers to shift work to the evening or early morning without conscious intent.

“The boundary between work and non-work has not disappeared, but it has become easier to cross,” noted HBR.

Multitasking

AI introduced a new rhythm, where employees managed multiple active streams simultaneously: manually coding while AI generated alternative versions, running several agents in parallel, or resuming long-postponed tasks.

Employees did this because they felt a “partner” was helping them cope with the workload. This situation led to constant attention switching and created a sense of perpetual busyness.

Enthusiasm-Driven

The company did not mandate the use of AI. Staff adopted it voluntarily, as the technology allows them to “do more.”

HBR pointed out that, in the short term, this trend is favorable for company leaders. However, enthusiasm for experimentation will eventually fade, and employees will find that their workload has increased.

“Such increased activity can lead to cognitive fatigue, burnout, and impaired decision-making. The initial productivity surge may be followed by declines in work quality, turnover, and other issues,” the study states.

Experts from HBR noted that the situation puts managers in a difficult position. Asking staff to regulate their responsibilities independently is not the best strategy. Companies should develop a set of norms and standards for AI use.

“Without such practices, the natural tendency when working with AI is not to reduce but to intensify work. This has consequences for burnout, decision quality, and long-term sustainability,” the study emphasizes.

Recommendations

Measures recommended by HBR to integrate:

• intentional breaks to prevent workload buildup;
• sequencing — experts advise postponing non-urgent notifications and updates to protect focus, so employees are not interrupted unnecessarily during core tasks;
• live communication — organizations should allocate time and space for human contact, whether through short meetings, collaborative reflection, or structured dialogue.

Recall that in December 2025, a Nobel laureate predicted a wave of unemployment due to AI in the short term.